THE CHILD BALLADS: A Two Night Event of Art, Music, and Film
Thursday, February 10th and Friday, February 11th
322 Union Avenue Brooklyn NY 11211
Come join the artists and performers for this traveling exhibition, organized by The Rotating History Project (Baltimore based artists Teddy Johnson and Heather Rounds), when it makes its way to Brooklyn on February 10 and 11, 2011. The two-day event will feature painting interpretations of Francis J Child’s English and Scottish Popular Ballads by 13 artists from around the country, screenings of several theme-related documentary films by directors Neil Rosenbaum and John Cohen, and live musical performances of ballads and traditional music by John Cohen and Art Rosenbaum with the Around the Globe Chantey Singers.
Art receptions are free
9-20 dollar suggested donation for music and film
EVENT SCHEDULE
Thursday, February 10th
6pm-7:30pm— Art reception
8:00 pm-8:45pm— Music performance by Art Rosenbaum with the Around the Globe Chantey Singers
9:00 pm— Screening of "Sing My Troubles By," Directed by Neil Rosenbaum, Co-produced by Art Rosenbaum and Lance Leadbetter (followed by Q&A with Art Rosenbaum)
Friday, February 11th
6pm-7:30pm— Art reception
7:30-8:30— Music Performance by Art Rosenbaum and John Cohen
8:45— Screenings of 3 films, directed by John Cohen:
"The End of an Old Song", "Gypsies Sing Long Ballads", and "The Ballad and the Source" (followed by Q&A with John Cohen)
FEATURED PAINTERS
Jovan Erfan
Annie Ewaskio
Eberhard Froehlich
Jeremy Hughes
Ryan Jedlicka
Teddy Johnson
Bart Lynch
Ty Lytton
Ben Mckee
Elias Necol Melad
Shaun Preston
Art Rosenbaum
Rachel Wolfson
ABOUT THE SHOW
American scholar Francis James Child collected the Child Ballads, a collection of 305 distinct ballads from England and Scotland and their American variants, in the late nineteenth century. Dealing with such ageless themes as morality, murder, romance, supernatural experiences, historical events, riddles, and folk heroes, Child’s compiled ballads continue to survive through oral traditions, are still sung today in both America and Europe, and have become part of the core of traditional Appalachian music. The Child Ballad Show is an exploration and continuation of these beautiful and strange old songs through the mediums of painting, music, and film.
10$ Companion Book/Show Catalog available at the event.
ABOUT THE FILMS
“Sing My Troubles By.” (2010)
Directed by Neil Rosenbaum
USA, Running time: 93 min.
A portrait of living older Georgia women who treasure and continue to perform the gospel, blues, mountain music and ballad traditions they grew up with.
“The End of an Old Song” (1973)
Directed by John Cohen
USA, Running time: 26 min., B&W
Filmed in the mountains of North Carolina, this acclaimed documentary revisits the region where English folklorist Cecil Sharp collected British ballads in the early 1900s. The film contrasts the nature of the ballad singers with the presence of the jukebox.
“Gypsies Sing Long Ballads” (1982)
Directed by John Cohen
USA, film location: Scotland and UK, Running time: 30 min.
Scotland's Gypsies have lived outside mainstream society for more than 500 years. Although some still live by the sides of roads, most live today in houses and are under pressure to abandon their culture. This film celebrates their traditional music, especially the long unaccompanied British ballads.
“The Ballad and the Source” (1983)
Directed by John Cohen
USA, film location: England and UK, Running time: 16 min., color
The tradition of unaccompanied ballad singing is very old and still cherished in Great Britain, though only a few traditional singers are still alive. This sensitive musical portrait profiles the life and art of Walter Pardon, perhaps the finest living traditional English ballad singer of his time.
FILM BIOS
Neil Rosenbaum is a videographer-filmmaker based in the Missouri Ozarks, having studied at the American University in Washington, D.C., and having worked there in video editing and production for The Learning Channel. Neil's father, Art Rosenbaum, is co-producer, with Lance Ledbetter of Dust-to-Digital, Atlanta. Art is an artist and folklorist, Wheatley Professor in the Arts Emeritus at the University of Georgia. He has collected and performed traditional American folk music for over 50 years and among his credits are two hard-cover books on Georgia folk music, two instruction books on traditional banjo playing, and 20 LPs, CDs, and video documentaries of his field collections. "Art of Field Recording: 50 Years of Traditional American Music Documented by Art Rosenbaum Vol. I, on the Dust-to-Digital label, won a Grammy for Best Historical Album in 2007, as well as a nomination for Best Album Notes.
John Cohen is a Photographer, Film-maker, and noted collector and performer of old time American music; founding member of the New Lost City Ramblers. John Cohen's body of work has been recognized in a wide range of fields: his photographs are in major museum collections and publications, his award winning films have been shown on PBS and BBC and at festivals worldwide. The sound recordings of the New Lost City Ramblers have received several Grammy nominations, and, along with his field recordings, have influenced many musicians - including Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, Ry Cooder - and shaped the old time music revival.
